Preadjustable control system for selecting, according to characteristics or numerical values, booking vouchers and the like as they are fed past the system



Nov. l5, 1960 E. sPlNGlEs ETAL 2,960,225

PRSAOJUSTABLE CONTROIJ SYSTEM ROR SSLECTINC, ACCORDING To CHARACTERISTICS OR NUMRRICAL VALUES, BOORINC VOUCHERS ANO THE LIKE AS THEY ARE FEO PAST THE SYSTEM Filed March 8, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 punched ['a/d/ 21' @nl 2f" NOV 15, 1960 E, sPlNGlEs ETAL 2,960,225

PREADJUSTABLE CONTROL SYSTEM FOR SELECTING, ACCORDING To CHARACTERISTICS 0R NUMERICAL VALUES, BOOKING VOUCHERS AND THE LIKE AS THEY ARE FED PAST THE SYSTEM Filed March 8, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l L- l E T39 I *1/v l '241 lf- 242 l i 6" n 6P I 9 si. 1 L: 1 l p g s I l I l l 322 I i l -4 l 'S l i I2 H l I P. l 5 77"-""" 77-"""` z I 14* 74 I l l s l fn Vn 4 1 i l l 62 l l l l I l l I d -4 l I .--Il H I I 12 l l 12 H I I l 14 74 l l l l 1 i 1 /Nl/Nroks E p/'ngies #H R05@ sensing device.

PREADJUSTABLE CONTROL SYSTEM FOR SE- LECTING, ACCORDING TO CHARACTERIS- TICS OR NUlVIERICAL VALUES, BOOKING VOUCHERS AND THE LIKE AS THEY ARE FED PAST THE SYSTEM Erwin Spingies, Hamburg, and Herbert Rose, Wohltorf,

Lauenburg, Germany, assignors to Brunsviga Maschinenwerke Aktiengesellschaft, Kastanienallee, Braunschweig, Germany, a firm Filed Mar. 8, 1957, Ser. No. 644,891

Claims priority, application Germany Mar. 12, 1956 Claims. (Cl. 209-111) The invention relates to a preadjustable control system for selecting, according to characteristics or numerical values, Vouchers and the like as they are fed past a For comparing preset values with sensed values or characteristics, the sensed values pass into a comparison mechanism in the form of electric, optic, acoustic or magnetic impulses.

In the case of setting devices of sorting machines or' similar comparing apparatus it is known to effect the ments are also open to the objection that a group selection of a plurality of characteristics of one place can be carried out only after several passes for one sorting compartment or, in the case of one pass, distributed to several sorting` compartments. Although the passestake place at a high speed, the actual time occupied for sort` ing is dependent upon numerous manipulations for each fresh run, for example, fresh setting of the desired next following place index number, introducing and removing the vouchers.

' An object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for comparing set characteristics with automatically sensedF single or multiplace index values, which can be connected -up in front of known accounting, calculating and sorting machines so that on the passage of a voucher or a punched hole card through the apparatus the characteristics are sensed and compared with the preset index values; when the index values are in agreement, the bookings can be carried out and, after running off, the vouchers can be guided to the desired sorting compartment. The comparison apparatus also allows a group selection of several index values of one place as the vouchers pass through the apparatus once.

f The comparison mechanism operates substantially by voltage stabilization which is embodied by electric elements corresponding to the maximum number of places of the characteristic. This electric stability is upset by keys corresponding to the desired index values yand reestablished by sensed impulses produced by stepping mechanism or other sequence elements, so that, in the case of conformity, other functions, such as booking or counting and sorting can take place.

--The-invention consists substantially in that all comparisonmeohanisms are connected to a single control element .foreach index value place inuenced bythe sensing mechanism, and adjustable groups of setting members, a bridge connection and a switching element, are co-ordinated to the comparison mechanisms and, in the case of conformity between the preset index value andthe sensed value, switch in the evaluation arrangements.v

2,969,22S Patented Nov. 1s, 19.69z

It is also within the scope of the invention to count and sort such articles as merchandise, letters, cheques and the like passing the sensing mechanism. In the case of counting, when a preset number is reached the next counting operation can be introduced. Each quantity of articles counted can be passed on for further treatment, for example for packing. Several counting operations independent of each other can be carried out simultane-y ously on a single conveyor.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings.

In these drawings:

Fig. 1 is a block diagram of a preadjustable control system with sensing device, and

Fig. 2 is a wiring diagram of the preadjustable control system.

For the purpose of explaining the invention, the sensing and comparison of a voucher is shown diagrammatically by way of example. Between a source of light 20 and a number of light sensitive sensing heads 211-2111, such as photoeleotric cells, photomultipl'ier tubes, or other well-known radiation sensitive elements, a passage for perforated vouchers 30 is arranged. Connected to each of the sensing heads 211-2111 is, if necessary, an impulse amplifier of a group of ampliers 221-2211 and a stepping mechanism, such as a telephone type stepping relay,y of a group of stepping mechanisms 231-2311, each with two contact paths 24 and 35, the contact path 24 serving to indicate the sensed characteristic or numerical value and the contact path 35 for zero control. As shown in our Patent 2,831,633 as relays Rl-A to Rl-D, switch contacts 411-4111, controlled by relay coil 40, are inserted in the transmission path between the amplifiers 22 and the stepping mechanisms 23. The number of the sensing heads 211-2111 with associated switching means is def, pendent upon the number of numerical places of theV sensed Value of a line. Leads connect each contact of the contact paths 241-2411 to setting members 251-25112 of individual comparison mechanisms 261-2611, which compare the value set by hand or mechanically with the sensed value of the characteristic. Each of the comparison mechanisms 261-2611 comprises the setting members 251-2511, 2511-25111 or 2512-25112, respectively, and one of relays 271-2711. The switch over mechanisms, when the sensed characteristic corresponds with the set index f value, pass on the following sensing' of the calculation patent, is provided for zeroizing the stepping mechanisms Tl'ie' control system operates in the following manner:

The setting members 251-25112 of the individual comparison mechanisms 261-2611 are set to the desired indexl values before the vouchers 30 pass through the machine.

When the voucher arrives under the slide contact Sch 1, the relay R2 releases and applies current to the sensing heads 211-2111 via its contact 3 and the contactof'thef relay LR-l. As a voucher with-its index values-turing past the sensing device, all the index Values are sensed the sensing heads 211-2111 either simultaneously or successively. The impulses resulting therefrom are transmitted Via the ampliers 221-2211 to the stepping mechanisms 231-2311 which step their sliders on to a contact :off the Contact paths 2131-2411 corresponding to the. number of impulses. The contact path 24 receives, through the stepping mechanism 23, as many impulses as the sensing head 21 transmits, and, thus, the slider of the contact path 24 turns by a corresponding number of steps; thesame applies to the contact arm for the zero control 35,Y inv a manner similar to that disclosed in Figs. 8, 9 and l0 of our Patent 2,831,633. When the impulses received from the voucher correspond With the values preset in Ithe setting members 251-2512, the relays 271-27 are energized by means of the contacts 16 of the relays 34 and the leads 171-1711. After the sensing of the characteristics of the voucher has been accomplished and by opening the contact K3 the relay R4 releases and energizes the relay 40 via its contact 1. This relay switches over its contact 411-41 and interrupts the connection from the connected amplifiers 221-22 to the stepping mechanisms 231-23 and establishes a connection from the amplifiers 221-22 to the contacts of the leads 281-28, The relays 271-27, corresponding to relays LR21 to LRZ4 of Patent 2,831,633, transmit further impulses of the sensed calculation values of the voucher to the calcula-ting mechanism co-ordinated thereto. At the same time the control of a sorting flap 291-29 in a separate sorting mechanism is initiated by the Switch-over mechanism 271-27, After the sensing of the vouchers has taken place, the stepping mechanisms 231-23 are returned into their initial position by the zeroizing mechanism 31. Therein the relay LR-I is operated. Upon operation this relay switches ol the sensing heads 211-21 by opening the contact 1. The relay LR-I holds itself via its contact 2 and the contact of the relay RO-I until the selectors 231-23 have arrived at their initial positions. When all the stepping mechanisms have reached their initial position, the contact paths 351-35 of thestepping mechanisms 231-23 arev cleared via their cut-through circuit for the sensing of the following voucher. The contact banks 35 serve the purpose of checking whether the stepping mechanisms 23 are in their zero positions at the beginning of a sensing operation. This arrangement is quite usual in the telecommunication art. In Fig. 1 the selectors 23 are shown in their normal position, so that the contact banks 351-35 associated with the respective selectors 23 establish a connection from the left-hand side of the drawing, which is ground, through the relay at the right and to the positive terminal of a source of electrical energy (not shown). The relay is adapted to switch-in the sensing heads 21, when the selectors 23 are in their zero position.

Fig. 2 shows setting members 321-32 of a comparison mechanism 261 cooperating with the contact paths 241-24 and a tube Aamplifier 33 with a relay 34 coupled to all the setting members 321-32n of a comparison mechanism. Leads 11 connect the contact paths 241-24 togroups of setting members 321-32n of the individual setting mechanisms. The contacts to 9 of the group of setting members are united and connected with a switch 12 which, on the setting of the lindex value place into position 1, is switched on to the groups of setting members.

Each switch 12 has a contact 13 connected through a resistor 14 and a wire 15 to a two stage amplifier 33. The amplifier has its output connected to the relay 34 for operating the relay contacts 16 which serve -to apply a source of electrical energy through line 17 to the switchover mechanisms 27 to prepare them for the reception of the calculating values and sorting instructions.

The operation of the setting members 321-32 is based on a bridge connection between the connected up resistors 14 and a load resistor 18 of the tube ampiler 33.

In the example illustrated in Fig. 2 the index value 2 is set in the group of setting members 321 and the index values 3, 4 and 5 in the group of setting members 322. No index value has been introduced inthe group of setting members 32, so that. the switch vcuts on the group 32 with its switch-over contact 13 and thereby switches the bridge arm belonging thereto into balance over the position 2.

If the voucher has, for example, the index value 23 the slider of the contact path241 runs on to the contact 2 and the slider of the contact path 242 on to the contact 3. Thus all resistors 14 are under current so that the bridge of the resistors 14 to the loading resistor 18 of the tube amplier 33 is in balanced state and the relay 34 responds. The through-switching in the case of index values 24 and 25, takes place in a similar manner. In the case of all other index values at least one resistor 14 receives no current, and the balance of the bridge to the loading resistor 18 is upset.

From this example it can be seen that both the index values with more than one place and also entire groups of index values can be evaluated during a single passage of the vouchers.

If additional comparison mechanisms are connected up these can operate in the same columns in the manner above described, but with diierent index values, or in diterent index value columns.

From the above detailed description of the invention, it is believed that the construction will at once be apparent, and while there is herein shown and described a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is nevertheless to be understood that minor changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

We claim:

1. A preadjustable control system for selecting, according to characteristics or numerical values, vouchers and the like as they are fed past the system, comprisingy in combination a sensing mechanism for sensing information recorded on information bearing members supplied to the system; a control element influenced by the output signals from said sensing mechanism; a comparison mechanism for each order in which information is recorded on said information bearing member connected to said control element; each of said comparison mechanisms comprising adjustable setting members, a bridge connected to said setting members, a switching element operated by said respective control element and adapted to generate a signal when a preset index value determined by the operation of said setting members corresponds with a sensed index value determined by the Operation of said switching element.

2. A control system as set forth in claim l, wherein each group of setting members has a reversing switch for switching in the bridge connection and maintaining a bridge arm in balanced state in the case of a group of setting members being unused.

3. The control system defined in claim l wherein said setting members are arranged in parallel to be sequentially connected to said switching element whereby aY 4. A control system for generating control signals upon the detection of correspondence between preset values and sensed values, said system comprising sensing means for sensing information recorded upon an information bearing member, said sensing means having individual sensing elements for each order in which information is recorded on said members; a plurality of stepping switches each comprising a control coil connected to individual sensing elements for receiving information therefrom, a movable contact arm under ythe control of said control coil, and a plurality of stationary contacts arranged to 'be sequentially connected to said movable contact arm; a plurality of settable setting members each connected to an individual stationary contact of a stepping switch; said settable setting members being adapted to pass signals when set and adapted to inhibit the passage ofV signals when not set; signal responsive means` connected to the setting members of any order for re- References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,989,049 Youngberg Ian. 22, 1935 5 2,359,670 Page oct. 3, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS 10 809,633 Great Britain Feb. 25, 1959 

